A question may be evaded or superseded in four ways: 1. By adjournment. Any member in possession of the house may move " that the house do now adjourn:" The house may also be adjourned, even while a member is speaking, on its being noticed that there are fewer than forty members present. The motion, " that the debate be now adjourned," does not supersede the question,' but merely defers the decision• of the house. 2. By a motion, that the orders of the day be now read, which my be put and carried on days on which notices of motion have precedence. 3. By what is called ing the previous question. The act of the speaker in putting the question is intercepted by a motion, " that the question be now put." The mover and seconder of this motion vote against it; and if it be resolved in the negative, the speaker is prevented from put ting the main question, which, however, may be brought forward on another day. 4. By an amendment substituting words of an entirely different import for those of the motion, so that the sense of the house is taken on a totally different question.
When the question is put by the speaker in the lords, the respective parties exclaim " content" or " non-content;" in the commons, the expression used is " aye" or " no." The speaker signifies his opinion which party have the majority, and if the house acquiesce, the question is said to be resolved in the affirmative or negative; when his decision is disputed, the numbers must be counted by a division. Both houses now divide by the content or ayes the right lobby, and the non-contents or noes into the left, each being counted tellers appointed by the speaker. In the house of commons, two clerks With printed lists of the members put a mark to the name of each as he re-enters the house, so as to secure accuracy in the division-lists. The speaker of the commons, who does not otherwise vote or take part in a debate, has a casting-vote in case of equality. In the house of lords, the speaker is, on the other hand, not dis qualified from taking part in a debate; he votes on divisions, but has no casting-vote; and on an equality, the non-contents prevail. The system of pairing commonly prac ticed, though never directly recognized by the house, enables members on opposite sides to absent themselves for a time agreed on, each neutralizing the votes of the other. A member of the upper house may, with leave of the house, by a protest enter his dissent from a vote of the house, and its grounds. Every protest is entered on the journals of the house, together with the names of all the lords who concur in it.
No question or bill is allowed to be offered in either house substantially the same with one on which the judgment of that house has already been expressed iu the current session. A resolution of the house, however, may he rescinded, and an order dis charged; and by 13 and 14 Viet. c. 21, it is provided that every act may be altered. amended, or repealed in the same session of parliament.
debate, a member of the commons addresses the speaker; a member of the upper house the lords generally, in both cases standing and uncovered. No member may speak except when there is a question before the house, or with the view to propose a motion or amendment, the only admitted exceptions being in putting questions to minis ters of the crowu, or to members concerned in some business which is before the house, and in explaining personal matters. A member is not allowed to speak twice to the
same question except in explanation, and the proposer, in some eases, in reply—a restriction which does not apply in committee. By the rules adopted by both houses for preserving order in debate, no allusion is allowed to debates of the same session on it question not under discussion, or 1.0 debates in the'other house of parliament. All reflec tions on any determination of the house are prohibited, except when made with n, view of moving that the determination be rescinded; so is the mention by a member of her majesty's name either irreverently, or to influence the debate, and the offensive and words against parliament or either house, or a member of the house in which he is speaking. No member is allowed to refer to another by mune, or otherwise than by the rank or office which he enjoys, or place which he represents. The speaker naming a member to the house, is an old established form of censure, which was last used when 3Ir. Feargns O'Connor struck the member beside him.
..11essages.—It is often found necessary for the houses to communicate with each other regarding matters occurring in the course of business. Messages from the lords were formerly sent by masters in chancery or judges, while the commons sent a deputation of their own members. According to a new arrangement adopted in 1835, one of the clerks of either house may be the bearer of a message.
Committees.—Parliamentary committees are either "of the whole house," or " select." A committee of the whole house is the house itself, with a chairman instead of the speaker presiding. The chair is taken in the lords by the chairman of committees appointed at the beginning of each session, in the commons by the chairman of the com mittee of ways and means. Matters relating to religion, trade, the imposition of taxes, or the granting of public money, are generally considered in committee before legisla tion, as also are the provisions of any public bill. Proceedings are conducted nearly as when the house is sitting, the lords being addressed in the upper house, and in the lower the chairman, who has the same powers to maintain order as the speaker, and a casting vote in case of equality. In committees of the commons, as in the home itself, a quo rum of forty members is required; but if that number are not present,. the speaker must resume the chair to adjourn the house. A motion in committee need not be seconded, and there is a more unlimited power of debate' than in 'the house, members being at lib erty to speak any limber of times on the same question. A motion for the previous question" is not allowed. When the business of the committee is not concluded on the day of sitting. the house is resumed, and the chairman moves "that the house he again put into committee on a future day," in the lords, and in the commons reports progress, and ask4 leave to sit again.